Chalet Cote Mer

To be straight, not every bedroom shares that same view, and one or two guests found their room a touch bright, so it is worth asking about the outlook when you book. Many guests take the package with a rental car and dinner included, which works well on an island where a car makes all the difference.

The food and the team are what guests write about most warmly. The restaurant draws real praise, with breakfast on the terrace often shared with visiting turtles and rays, and the staff are described as superb, the kind of home away from home that brings people back. The infinity pool over the ocean is the picture everyone remembers.

Baie Sainte Anne is the main village and ferry port on the east coast of Praslin, about thirty minutes from both the north and south ends of the island, which makes it a handy base. The jetty for boats to La Digue and the smaller islands is close by, and the beaches and shops of Côte d'Or are a short drive over the hill. Praslin is reached by a quick flight or the fast ferry from Mahé. For a small guesthouse with a memorable view and a fine kitchen on Praslin, Chalet Côte Mer is one we are glad to recommend.

Baie Sainte Anne is the main village and ferry port on the east coast of Praslin, a working island town rather than a resort strip, with shops, a bank, a clinic and the jetty where the boats leave for La Digue and the smaller islands. It looks out over the water to La Digue, and it sits roughly in the middle of the island, about thirty minutes from both ends, which makes it a practical base for exploring. Over the hill to the north is Côte d'Or, the island's busiest beach, with its dive centres and restaurants, while the Vallée de Mai palm forest is inland and Anse Lazio is on the far side. Praslin is reached by a quick flight or the fast ferry from Mahé, and a hire car makes the most of it.